day 32: fasting

"when you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. i tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. but when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to met that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

matthew 6:16-18

the one and only time that i exercised the discipline of fasting was in middle school during the heirborne 30-hour famine. i would hardly consider it fasting. although they now practice a more strict fasting, we had milkshakes and juice. not huge quantities of either one but enough to keep us from really reaching the point of "starving." the point of the 30-hour famine is a little bit different than the biblical fasting too. it was a fundraiser to raise awareness (and money) of those around the world living in poverty with very little to eat or drink.

fasting is not a common practice today, at least not among those i interact with. maybe there are some who do practice it as Jesus commanded - in secret - but it is still not common or frequently talked about even in our church community. i guess that explains why aside from the 30-hour famine i have never practiced it myself.

notice what the passage says - "when you fast" not "if you fast". there are old testament practices that we no longer observe as a result of the new covenant and Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross. i don't think that fasting fits into this category, though. i think fasting has become a commonly overlooked practice in the lives of many Christians today.

david nasser says,"fasting is spiritual concentration. in this case, you are concentrating your mind, soul, and body to know God and to know his will." he says that each of us apply the concept of fasting in our daily lives. when we have a big exam or project at work or something that needs intense concentration, we put aside favorite habits (television, talking to friends, etc.), go to bed late and get up early, possibly even miss a meal here or there in order to get the job done and learn the material. spiritual fasting involves similar concepts. we are to put aside favorite habits, possibly even give up some sleep and food, in order to seek God's will.

Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness before starting his earthly ministry. can you imagine, forty days?! he did it in order to prepare himself for his ministry of teaching and redeeming - to know His Father and His will.

perhaps i should take the practice of fasting further than fasting from facebook. i could fast - even just short-term - before i make major life decisions and seek God's will. i could fast before stepping into a ministry or before heading out on a missions trip, so that i can concentrate my mind, my soul, and my body to know God.

Lord, sometimes i struggle to seek and figure out your will for my life. help me to follow the example of Jesus, who fasted in order to know you in preparation for ministry. fill me with you.